A/N: Hello! Thanks for favorites, follows and reviews, as always. :)
Chapter 8, then. References of 3X24- Knockout and 4X01- Rise.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

When he finally comes home, I am still awake. I know he told me to go to sleep, but of course it was not that easy. I just couldn't.

So when I hear the lock turn, I climb out of bed and go out to the living room. He turns after closing the door and sees me.

'Jenny!', he says, 'You're still up? It's…' , he glances at the wall clock, 'three-thirty in the morning.'

'Couldn't sleep' was to be my response, but it comes after a much longer pause than I had originally planned, because I am just looking at him, and seeing him.

He looks exhausted.

Grief and fatigue shows in his whole posture.

He is wearing his dark blue police uniform. As if to match with that, the blue in his eyes is a deeper and darker shade than usual.

But I know the reason of the darkness lies not in his outfit, but right in that place where the fatigue and grief comes from.

I finally mumble out my response. He nods, then sits down on the couch.

'Aren't you gonna…', I stop myself.

Captain Montgomery was shot to death two days ago. And today Kate has been shot.

Kevin has talked to me exactly twice on the phone today- once when I called he let me know that Kate was shot and they were at the hospital, once he called to say that she was out of the surgery and is going to be okay, but he was going back to the precinct and try to track down the sniper, so he may not be home tonight.

But judging by his looks, and the fact that he is already home, they were not very successful.

So, yes. Kevin is going through a lot right now. And after a day like this, if he wants to just sit on the couch when he arrives home at three-thirty in the morning, I am not talking about if he is going to change first. Or come to bed.

I am just going to sit beside him.

And that is exactly what I do.

I sit down beside him, and put my hands on his.

He doesn't look at me, but he clasps my hands and his grip is tight. It is almost as if he is trying to draw strength from the touch.

We stay like that.

Finally, when I think his grip has loosened a little, I break the silence.

'Are you hungry?'

He looks at me. 'Hungry?'

'Yes. You look like you haven't eaten all day.'

'I…', he struggles to remember, 'had something off the vending machine at the hospital. Once. And a lot of coffee.'

I shake my head. 'There are leftovers in the fridge.', I stand up. 'I'll heat some up for you.'

After he has eaten (very little), he showers and he comes to bed.

When he lies down beside me, I watch him for a few moments - unmoving, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling.

Then I softly say, 'Kev.'

He looks at me. The dim light of the night light has merged with the darkness in the room, and that darkness seems to intensify in his eyes.

I place a hand on his cheek.

'You know it's going to be okay.'

He places a hand on mine and gives a little nod.

'Kate has survived. I know you will find the shooter and bring him to justice. You will find out why he shot her and solve everything. And the Captain, he will be proud of you all from wherever he is.'

And I see the blue start to glitter as tears form in his eyes.

'Kevin.' I move as close to him as possible, then put my arms around him. He hugs me back, burying his face in my shoulder.

'Shh. It's okay, honey. It's okay.', I whisper.

I can hear his labored breathing, feel his chest rise and fall as he tries to control himself.

I hug him tighter with one arm, I slip the fingers of my other hand through his hair, softly clutching a handful.

'It's fine, sweetie. It's all right.', I continue, trying to keep my own eyes dry.

After a few minutes, his breathing becomes easier and the gentle shaking stops and finally he is lying still in my arms.

After a few more minutes, I pull the hair on the back of his head and he moves and looks at me.

His face is a faint pink, his lips look soft and the blue eyes just look…vulnerable.

I press kisses all over his face. His forehead, his cheeks, his nose, his lips, his chin.

Then I close his eyes with my hand and kiss the eyelids.

'Go to sleep.' I murmur.

'And remember, I am always, always here for you.'

I put my arm around him again. He sighs and his body relaxes.

And somehow I know when morning comes, the blue will not be dark like the evening sky any more.

And even if it is, I will be right by his side and work through it until I can see a spring afternoon again.

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